Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky for 2023

Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools Kentucky

The Bluegrass State is currently home to 73,747 active registered nurse licenses according to their State Board of Nursing. If you would like to join them (or even if you are already one of them) multiple prospects for nursing programs are available.

These include options if you are new to nursing or if you are looking to further your education and professional growth.

With so many paths to a nursing career, we recognize that choosing the right school can feel overwhelming. This list is created to help you understand the top 5 nursing schools in Kentucky and important information about each of them. We will cover:

• Top Nursing Schools in Kentucky
• How to choose the right program

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1.  University of Kentucky – Score 64.00

• NCLEX Pass Rate: 98%
• In-state tuition: $12,610
• Out-of-State tuition: $31,608

At the top of the list is the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. The University of Kentucky offers opportunities ranging from the traditional BSN degree to a Ph.D. in Nursing. They’re a large program: at the time of their Fall, 2021 enrollment there were a total of 1,589 students enrolled in the College of Nursing. According to the UK website, the National Institute for Research database ranks them at No. 14 nationally among all public and private nursing schools. Their graduation rate is 63%.

The programs being offered at UK are CCNE accredited and include:

• BSN
  • Traditional
  •  ABSN—both in-person and online learning; includes an LPN to BSN option
  • RN to BSN—fully online

• MSN—fully online
• DNP— both in-person and online learning; offering both MSN to DNP or BSN to DNP options
• APRN Post Graduate Certificates
• PhD

2. University of Louisville – Score 45.56

• NCLEX Pass Rate: 89%
• In-state tuition: $12,174
• Out-of-State tuition: $28,520

The University of Louisville School of Nursing is part of its Health Sciences Center located in downtown Louisville. It is housed in their medical complex along with the University hospital, which allows the program multiple community partnerships. Their graduation rate is 53%.

The program is CCNE accredited and includes several flexible options for those who already hold degrees:

• BSN
  • Traditional
  • ABSN—both in-person and online learning
  •  RN to BSN—fully online
• MEPN—Second-Degrees, on-campus learning
• MSN APRN
•  APRN Post Graduate Certificates—mostly online, in-person 4-6 times a semester
• DNP– offering both MSN to DNP or BSN to DNP options
•  PhD

3. Eastern Kentucky University – Score 44.89

• NCLEX Pass Rate: 94%
• In-state tuition: $9,452
• Out-of-State tuition: $10,500

The Eastern Kentucky University’s School of Nursing celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2021. This school has one of the lowest tuitions on the list, making it one of the more affordable options. Their graduation rate is 47%.

ACEN (ADN) and CCNE accredited, the program supports its nursing students with flexible options that can decrease the amount of time they spend in school:

• ADN—classes structured on-campus one day a week
• BSN
  • Traditional
  •  ABSN—completed in 21 months
  • RN to BSN—completed online in 12 months
• MSN—online
• DNP—online

4. Murray State University – Score 43.78

• NCLEX Pass Rate: 96%
•  In-state tuition: $9,252
• Out-of-State tuition: $14,058

Murray State University is a school of 9,456 students located in Western Kentucky. The School of Nursing is one of MSU’s highest enrolling undergraduate fields. They place an emphasis on their faculty mentoring students, which has resulted in a 10% increase in their NCLEX first-time pass rate.

In addition to the traditional BSN program, the school offers several online programs for obtaining a degree and has a 54% graduation rate.

• BSN
  • Traditional
  • RN to BSN—completed online in 12 months
• BSN to DNP—completed online in 3 years
• MSN to DNP—completed online in 2 years

5. Morehead State University – Score 41.33

• NCLEX Pass Rate: 98%
•  In-state tuition: $9,082
• Out-of-State tuition: $13,726

Morehead State University’s College of Science houses their Department of Nursing. The Department has clinical partnerships with more than 50 health care facilities across Kentucky which provides you multiple opportunities for hands-on learning.

MSU nursing students are involved in sponsoring bi-annual health care career fairs for their community. The department has a 48% graduation rate and consistently maintains a 100% job placement rate for their graduates.

Accredited by either the ACEN (ADN) or the CCNE, here are the possibilities for a degree:

• ADN—completed in as little as two years; earn concurrent credits toward your RN to BSN
• BSN
  • Traditional
  • RN to BSN—online, formatted in eight-week modules
• MSN/FNP—online

How to choose the right nursing program

Each of the criteria we have discussed is important, but there will be a few that will carry more weight for you when making your decision.

Some of the factors you should definitely consider are:

• Do they offer a program that fits your needs?
• If you already hold a degree, do they offer a way for you to build on it?
• Where are they located and will you need to commute?  
• What are their NCLEX pass rates and tuition costs? 

Location

The nursing schools at the top of Kentucky’s list are located in cities spread across the state. With multiple locations from which to choose, it is likely there will be at least one that stands out. Knowing the location may help you decide which school is right for you and your unique circumstances. For example, think about whether you will be working and need to commute or if the program you want is 100% online. By keeping your criteria in mind, one of these settings should fit your needs.

Tuition

Ultimately, tuition will vary depending on several factors such as being in-state or out-of-state, receiving grants or scholarships, and so on. Many nursing students take out student loans to help pay for school. If you were one of them and are now pursuing an advanced degree, you may also be bringing previous student debt with you.

Nurses are in a unique position for assistance with loan repayment or loan forgiveness. It’s helpful to do some thorough research now to help you understand all your options.

NCLEX Pass Rate

To work as a registered nurse, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, the NCLEX-RN. All of the schools on our list have good NCLEX pass rates, some very high. This is important information to have since a nursing school should ultimately be preparing you to pass the NCLEX. When visiting with the faculty at your schools of choice, be sure to ask them about their pass rates and their graduation rates.

Programs Offered

Finding the correct program for your situation is very important. There are so many options at each of these schools, you must make sure you choose a program that meets your unique needs.

If you’re interested in going into advanced practice, you may also want to consider programs for the future. It’s helpful to continue your career growth in a program that builds on the education you’ve already received.

Graduation Rate

Each school’s graduation rate is based on the percentage of first-time undergraduate students who complete their 4-year program in 4-6 years. It’s always helpful to know how many students are admitted to a program, but it is equally important to understand how many students obtain their degree in a timely manner.

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Methodology

In order to determine the best nursing schools in a state, Incredible Health compared the top schools among five categories: graduation rate, tuition, NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and the number of nursing programs offered.

Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale with 100 representing the highest total for that category. Then we compiled the individual scores to get an overall score.

We used data from 

• University webpages
• Kentucky Board of Nursing
• U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings 

Next Steps

Hopefully, all the information we’ve provided will help you narrow your choices. Now you can make the most informed decision possible and send in your application. We’re so excited to help you find the right school, and when you start looking for a job we’ll be here to help the right employer find you!